SHAFAQNA – The relationship between media, politics and the public around the world heavily depended on the media and artistic medium like cinema and television. That explains why the US invests heavily on the media to manipulate the narration of an event to offer their desired image of a certain event.

Unfortunately, all of their efforts go hand in hand to present a distorted image of countries that fight imperialism and hegemonies and to manipulate the public opinion across the world against them.

The same scenario took place at the time of the US invasion to Iraq and its military interference in Afghanistan. As Iran tried to offer its peaceful and suggestive strategies in the region, the US president George W Bush called Iran an axis of evil while upon his command a serious unrest was taking place in different corners of the world. Bush called Iran a threat to the world and recently Donald J Trump, the US President placed a ban on Iranian citizens and some other mainly Muslim countries to enter the US borders. Such discriminative policies, sadly, is the basic of the US international policies.

They are aware how they act with regard to major challenges can influence the society’s behavior.

Media platforms take advantage of developing technology in their favor to broaden their viewership from national scale to international scale, thanks to fast internet connection. Media platforms operate in the public interest and are capable of shaping election campaigns and political participation.

With such hardline policies, former US president George W Bush gave a green light to media platforms and outlets to focus on content management of ongoing Iranophobia and Islamophobia projects. Fox News for example manipulates news and presents a distorted image of Iran and Islam which encourage opposition with Iranian culture and thinking.

It explains the reasoning behind the production of series like Homeland and 24 to portrait a distorted image of the Islamic culture which is truly based on peace and amity. In these series, they portrait a terroristic and primitive image of Islam and introduce Iranians as supporters of terrorism who target the world security with various terrorist attacks across the world.

The US has politicized its cinema massively; when Michelle Obama, the former US First Lady, announced Argo as the best film of the 85th Oscars from the White House, it was crystal clear to what depth the US international politics has penetrated into its cinema.

Given the above facts and analysis, we understand the need for an unbiased international film festival which introduces Islamic justice and Iran’s amity in forms of cinematic works.

Finally, is important to mention that no international film festivals in west Asia enjoys the similar history and age of Fajr International Film Festival. FIFF is very influential and aims to supports filmmakers from across the world who make films with message of peace, justice, fighting imperialism, filmmakers who share the same cause and aim as FIFF and filmmakers from neighboring countries.

FIFF tries to provide a venue for them for marketing of their cinematic works and for build cultural interactions with other filmmakers from other corners of the world.